Date

Nov 19, 2014

Description

The next two documents reveal the careful balancing act the U.S. was carrying out in seeking to use the Denver summit to advance consensus among the industrialized nations on the need to address target change, but at the same time to hedge against "unrealistic" expectations on the part of U.S. allies. Here Albright lays out for President Clinton the key issues to be addressed at the upcoming Denver economic summit. She reveals how the U.S. hoped to use the meeting to strengthen consensus on climate change and other environmental issues, but without getting into specifics prematurely. As Albright stresses, "The Denver Summit is a high-visibility opportunity for you to demonstrate how the United States and its core democratic partners are harnessing forces of change and globalization in ways that are of direct and tangible advantage to our citizens." Environmental issues were but one key item in the agenda, which included bringing Russia into the discussions, supporting democracy around the globe, and addressing Africa's economic, political and security challenges.

Regarding environmental issues, Albright cautioned Clinton that he "will need to manage expectations," especially those of German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who wanted to use his trip to the summit and the ensuing UN General Assembly Special Session on Environment and Development in New York to "showcase" his global environmental leadership to the German people. To this end, Kohl had asked to lead the summit discussion on environmental issues and was expected to push for "deliverables" on climate change and other issues. The U.S. shared Kohl's priorities, but differed on tactics and "modalities." For example, Germany and the European Union were pressing for the "unrealistic" goal of reducing GHG emissions by 15% from 1990 levels by 2020. In response, Albright advised, Clinton should urge Kohl and the EU to leave the details to the UN climate talks while the summit leaders supported "meaningful but realistic reduction targets."

Source

Department of State FOIA

Document published in following posting(s):

The Clinton White House and Climate Change: The Struggle to Restore U.S. Leadership

Dec 11, 2015

Memorandum for the President from Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. ca. June 1997, Subject: The Denver Summit of the Eight, June 20-22 (with cover memorandum, Peter Tarnoff to the Secretary of State, June 13, 1997, Subject: The Denver Summit of the Eight), (Confidential/NODIS)